Mar 27, 2025, 09:00 AM ET
Have a laugh available in the market.
It is a easy sentence: 4 phrases, a simple directive, a decision to motion that is tricky to forget about. Some elite athletes may eschew this kind of fundamental initiative, opting for to concentrate on profitable above all else.
However for Michigan State sophomore goaltender Trey Augustine, “have a laugh available in the market” is going past a easy message, and exemplifies one thing a lot deeper: It is the word his grandfather, Kenneth Augustine Sr., would repeat to Trey ahead of each and every of his hockey video games.
“That at all times helps to keep me coming again to, ‘for this reason I do it,'” Trey informed ESPN. “I do have a laugh available in the market. And I like coming to the rink on a daily basis and seeing my buddies and the coaches and the group of workers, and simply roughly having this group on the rink the place I will be able to step away for 4 or 5 hours at a time manner the arena to me. And if I wasn’t having a laugh, I do know there’d be an issue.”
Augustine is Michigan State’s netminder wunderkind, and he and his teammates are in quest of to seize this system’s fourth NCAA championship — and its first since 2007. The Spartans, the No. 1 seed within the Toledo Regional, open play Thursday opposed to Cornell (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+). Even though his grandfather died simply greater than two years in the past, his affect shall be felt by means of Augustine and by means of extension the remainder of the staff.
Trey has been strapping at the pads and blocker and taking part in objective since he used to be 8. And his Michigan roots run deep.
Kenneth Sr., who used to be referred to as “Senior” within the hockey international, labored for Ford, and used to be transferred to the Detroit house within the early Eighties. His son, Kenneth Jr., met his long run spouse, Yvette, in St. Louis — Yvette handed on her athleticism to Trey, as she performed basketball at Drake College — and Trey used to be born on Feb. 23, 2005. The circle of relatives moved to Michigan a 12 months and a part later to be nearer to each Kenneth and Yvette’s households, and arrange Trey in a hockey-focused group close to his grandpa.
Trey Augustine wears No. 1 in honor of his grandfather, the primary Kenneth James Augustine. USATNSYNDICATION
Sooner than lengthy, Trey’s hockey time table took him clear of Michigan, however that did not stay Senior from following alongside. From New York to Toronto to Chicago, Trey recalls “Gramps” hardly overlooked a recreation, even with the less-than-tropical stipulations that include being a hockey mum or dad — or grandparent.
“Seeing him at each and every recreation he may well be at, simply sitting within the stands all bundled up with the blankets and the hats on as a result of he would get bloodless,” Trey stated of his first reminiscences of seeing Senior at his video games. “Simply him being there for me clearly when he most likely wasn’t in probably the most relaxed of eventualities being in a freezing-cold ice rink.”
Trey’s mom stated Trey and his grandfather had been at all times shut.
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“He used to be at all times there, he used to be at all times provide, he used to be at all times having conversations with him. I believe he at all times carried him with him,” Yvette stated. “And I believe it intended a ton to him that Trey used to be a 3rd, proper? And a part of the namesake.”
Wait, a 3rd? Sure, it is true. The goalie in query additionally is called Kenneth Augustine, similar to his dad and grandfather. However since he’s the 3rd Kenneth James Augustine, he is going by means of Trey.
“My grandpa used to be the primary Kenneth James Augustine. My dad used to be the second one. And I am the 3rd. So I am roughly at all times taking part in for my grandpa,” Trey stated.
Kenneth James Augustine Sr. specifically loved gazing Trey play for Workforce USA within the under-17 match. When Trey first made the staff, he and his folks introduced Senior with a USA hockey Nationwide Workforce Construction Program blouse to turn him the inside track in individual.
“He knew how necessary that position used to be, particularly seeing that as my objective. And he knew how prime I sought after to try,” Trey stated. “He knew it intended so much to me, so I believe it intended the arena to him as neatly.”
Kenneth Sr. died on the age of 91 on Jan. 27, 2023, whilst Trey used to be getting ready to play for the U.S. within the U18 Worlds. Trey used to be devastated by means of the inside track, however he selected to return at the bus together with his teammates to procedure it.
“After which I keep in mind getting house that evening and going immediately to my area to peer all my circle of relatives that used to be there,” Trey stated.
Trey’s folks made positive Senior used to be represented at Trey’s nationwide video games at some stage in the match.
Kenneth Sr. took specific satisfaction in gazing Trey play for Workforce USA in world competitions. From most sensible: Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Photographs; USATNSYNDICATION
“My dad at all times wore this particular hat. It used to be a blue USA hat. And my sister introduced it to Switzerland with us,” Ken Jr. recalled.
All the way through the gold medal recreation opposed to Sweden, Trey’s aunt used to be keeping the US hat for the primary two sessions, however the recreation wasn’t going the best way they might was hoping.
“We had been dropping 2-0 within the gold medal recreation,” Ken Jr. stated. “And [Ken’s sister] stated, ‘Right here, you’re taking it for the 3rd duration,’ and gave me the hat.”
The U.S. lower the deficit to 2-1 halfway during the duration, then tied the sport with 3:16 ultimate. Sweden went at the energy play with 1:03 left in law and peppered Augustine with pictures because the man-advantage stretched into time beyond regulation. However Trey held sturdy, and Workforce USA received it on Ryan Leonard’s objective simply greater than a minute after the penalty kill used to be whole.
“It used to be lovely particular,” Ken Jr. stated. “We would love to assume that [Senior] used to be there with us and gazing over us.”
Trey recalls feeling a identical sentiment after the sport.
“I truly sought after my grandpa to peer my first gold medal. And he clearly wasn’t there at the moment. And I had a chance ahead of that to win one,” he stated. “I believe simply seeing [Trey’s dad], I noticed my grandpa. … I do know he used to be with me there in spirit.”
Since Trey’s first gold medal for Workforce USA at the U18 staff in 2023, he has received two extra on the International Juniors in 2024, and once more this previous January 2025, the place Augustine become the winningest goaltender in U.S. historical past on the Worlds, propelling the American citizens to victory over Finland in time beyond regulation.
In his 2nd season at Michigan State, Augustine used to be the Large Ten’s goaltender of the 12 months, main the league in wins (18), save proportion (.927) and goals-against reasonable (2.02) and is certainly one of 4 finalists for the Mike Richter Award as the highest goalie within the nation.
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Trey’s reverence for his grandfather lives on in his jersey quantity. Trey wears No. 1, for Kenneth Augustine the primary. He additionally wears a sticker at the again of his helmet to honor his grandfather.
“He had ‘Senior’ with a middle at the again of his helmet,” Yvette stated. “So I believe he’s going to at all times simply lift him with him. He’s going to at all times have his voice in his head.”
Trey skilled each and every sports activities fan’s dream come true: He used to be drafted by means of his formative years favourite staff, the Detroit Pink Wings, in the second one spherical of the 2023 NHL draft, preserving true to his Michigan roots.
Now, as Augustine prepares for his 2nd NCAA match with Michigan State, he stays impressed by means of the teachings Kenneth Sr. handed to him each and every time he steps onto the ice.
“I believe he’d be extraordinarily proud. However I additionally assume for him, it is larger than the sport,” Trey stated. “It is about being a excellent member of the group and having a favorable have an effect on on lives and other folks round you. And I believe that is one thing that roughly will get misplaced in athletes. It is simply how necessary it’s on the finish of the day to be a excellent individual, to be a excellent member of the group. … I at all times take into accounts as neatly.”
